TIPS ON CHOOSING A VEIL.

There are a number of items to consider when deciding on the type of veil to wear on your wedding day. These being your gown style, hair style, wedding style and personal preference. Also, a good point to remember is to not have an ornate veil with an ornate dress as the combination will take the effect away from both. Also choose a veil that will complement your hair not hide it.

One important point to consider when choosing a veil is your face shape. The wrong type of veil and unbalance the look you have tried create for your special day.

Basic face shapes are:

	Oval: soft, curved edges; a face slightly longer than it is wide. Choice of Veil: your choices are unlimited because you're perfectly symmetrical. Whatever style of veil will look right for your face. You will only need to concentrate on which veil goes best with your hairstyle and gown.
	Round: from the central point of the nose, your face will be as wide as it is long. Choice of Veil: your fuller face will benefit from a veil that falls along the side of your face, working to narrow it somewhat. Stay away from round hairstyles also. Wearing your hair down framing your face would work best.
	Oblong: like an oval shaped face but has slightly added length. Choice of Veil: add a bit of width by choosing veils with a cascading effect with a wide tiara or bun wrap. Try not to pile your hair high as this will give your face a more elongated look.
	Heart-shaped: narrow chin but widening from the cheek, eye and temple area with curved edges. Choice of Veil: your face needs added width at the jaw. The best type of veil would be a back piece veil. This is where the veil is attached to the back of the head creating a wider look behind the neckline. Hair wise a great look is a flipped up style.
	Diamond: sharper features with a wider cheek area tapering in at the forehead and chin. Square: level sides and forehead with a strong jawline or slight jutting. Distance from the top of your head to chin is the same as the width of your face. Choice of Veil: as with the oval shaped face your choice is also unlimited as your perfectly symmetrical shape would suit any style of veil. Again, concentrate on a style that matches or gown to its fullest potential.
	Square: level sides and forehead with a strong jawline or slight jutting. Distance from the top of your head to chin is the same as the width of your face. Rectangular: similar to the square but slightly longer than it is wide Choice of Veil: a square face need softness so look look for a longer veil rather than a shorter wider style. Tendrils of hair cascading down the side of the face also help to balance a strong jawline.
	Triangular: similar to a heart-shaped face but the lines and edges are more angular. Choice of Veil: similar to the heart-shaped face you will also need added width at the jaw. Choose a back piece veil to give added width at the neckline. Again, a flipped-up hairstyle looks great.

Veil Styles

There are many veil styles to choose from and it can get a bit confusing when you are searching for the right one. After choosing what sort of veil will suit your face shape, the next important issues to consider are your gown style and personal preference. There are a number of veil lengths available and although you may have your heart set on a particular type, it may not suit your gown and detract from the reason you chose it in the first place. Another thing to consider is the embellishments on veils. Too much can also be a distraction.

Veil Lengths

Shoulder length veils are great for creating a dramatic or mysterious look. Simple sheath style gowns accentuating the figure look fabulous with a short veil.

Elbow length veils are mainly used with gowns without a train. They also enable any detailing from the waist down. These are also great for casual weddings.

Fingertip length veils are very versatile and are great with long gowns and those with trains. However, brides who are under 5'4'' should consider a shorter or longer veil as the fingertip length will appear longer and may have the effect of making the bride look shorter.

Chapel length veils complement gowns with floor or chapel length trains. Usually worn at more formal wedding ceremonies.

Cathedral length veils are very dramatic and are usually worn with a cathedral length train gowns. Great for brides who wish to make a grand entrance or weddings held in a large church or a place with a long, wide aisle.

Veil Tiers

The most common number of tiers for veils are single or one, two and three.

One Tier veils are great for sophisticated simplicity or to compliment a very decorated gown or elaborate hairstyle where it can be secured at the back of the head.

Two tier veils are the most popular. The top tier can be used as a blusher, where the bride can pull one tier over the face. Then pulled back over later in the ceremony. Suits almost all types of gowns and hairstyles and the added fullness frames the face nicely.

Three tier veils are great for the dramatic look to a simple or plane gown especially used with a strong veil edge which outlines each tier.

A Final Word

This information is to assist you in choosing a veil which will complement your face, your gown and hairstyle, but the most important point to remember is that it is your personal choice which veil to choose.